Lake Ariel

I am in Lake Ariel, PA, in the house my great-grandfather built. This is a place of happy memories- a place my father cherished since he was a boy. My Aunt Maha found the guest book, and we read a particularly moving entry my father wrote in 1995: "Steve, Joanne, Philip, Justine August 19-22, 1995 LaMartine wrote a poem, "Le Lac," about how we try to stop precious moments in time, and then look back at them with fondness. Lake Ariel is a special place where we do stay in time, for a time, for a few days, a week, a month. When we return, we are older & different, but of course the lake has not changed in its special, timeless essence, and for that we are always grateful. It has become a quiet measuring point for our lives. Wonderful weather, with special pleasures & joys for Philip & Justine."

Steve's Cedar Tree

When my father passed away, his brother had a cedar tree planted in his honor in Lebanon. Here are some recent pictures of his growing cedar:

Ezekiel 17: 22-24
Thus says the Lord GOD: "I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar, and will set it out; I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I myself will plant it upon a high and lofty mountain; on the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bring forth boughs and bear fruit, and become a noble cedar; and under it will dwell all kinds of beasts; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest. And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it."